Worst. Meeting. Ever.

Milliner’s head was pounding as he woke up. As he tried to shake away the fog he realized the pounding was also on the window he was leaning against. Bleary eyed, he glanced out to see a set of knuckles wrap in quick succession right by his head. Confused his eyes followed the arm up to a face where a pinched mouth was set in a perpetually annoyed expression. His eyes met hers and he gave out a groan.

“Wake. Up,” she snapped as she threw the door open.

He fell forward, not ready to support his own body. His face was spared the pain of gravel by running into the base of the car frame instead. She roughly grabbed his shoulder and half pulled, half pushed him back into the car. The cabbie chuckled as she sat beside Milliner in the back.

“Hello Patsy,” he trilled, recalling how much she hated the nickname.

She flinched but ignored the jab, “How’s my favorite little patient.”

Nodding in acknowledgment of her play he decided to change tact, “What’s with the abduction?”

“I needed to talk to you.”

“Obviously. Why?”

“What do you know about Leporidae, Inc?”

He shrugged, “Not as much as I should, they have their fingers in a lot of pots, some less savory than others. But taking in considering that if you follow the rabbit hole far enough into my companies holdings you’ll see they own my company so I try not to get in the cross hairs. Focus on the job, not who ordered it.”

“Head in the sand, per usual.”

“We both know that is a bit wide of the truth. I just pick my battles. Digging into Leporidae results in shortened life spans. Or long ones in less than ideal circumstances.”

“Yes, some of those circumstances are what I would like to discuss with you. Particularly, one person who has just doomed herself to them.”

“Herself?”

“We’ll get to that. Have you heard of the C.O.P.?”

“I take it you don’t mean the blue and whites who are less than pleased to have me around at any given time?”

“Is anyone pleased to have you around?”

“I’ve never dealt with them directly, they’re a skiddish lot, but yeah, I’ve heard of them. No idea who they are, where they are or what they are about.”

“Good, then everyone is doing their job. The C.O.P. is a resistance group of sorts, The Corruptio Optimi Pessima.”

“Latin, what a bunch of tossers.”

“I thought it was rather fitting.”

“The corruption of the best is the worst? Why was that so fitting?”

“They are fighting the corruption in this town, and the biggest target of the organization at the moment is Leporidae, Inc.”

“Tell me Pats- Dr. Gagnu, what have you gotten yourself mixed up in”

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with. I’m just telling you a little background so you know, moving forward, what some of the stakes are.”

“Corrupt corporations and secret societies, you know how I feel about that nonsense.”

“You prefer adulterous paydays?”

“They are infinitely cleaner.”

“Interesting view, considering how seedy your occupation is.”

“If it’s so seedy then why, pray, are you asking for my help?”

“Despite our differences and as hard as it is for me to say this, you are the best man for the job. Your experience, ability and discretion are beyond reproach, and the motivation will be there, so there really is no one else.”

“Motivation?”

“We’ll get to that, but will you take the job?”

“I don’t know any of the specifics.”

“You know me.”

“Yeah, see that’s part of the problem.”

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t absolutely necessary, will you help or not?”

“Taking a job on trust alone is always tricky Doctor, especially when their isn’t any trust. However, as you say, I do know you. You have my word I will see this job through. Until either it or I am over, happy?”

She narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious, “That was entirely too easy.”

“Don’t worry about it, you going to fill me in or not?”

“Not.”

“What?”

“You have a meeting a Ducks, remember? I’m not the one hiring you, I am the one vouching for you. We’ll need to wait until we get there for you to hear more. You slept a little long, he wont be happy to have been waiting -”

“I wasn’t asleep, you drugged me!”

“Tomato, potato, it’ll be fine.”

He glared at her but held his tongue. Arching an eyebrow she accessed him. Nodding to herself she tapped the cabbie on the shoulder and instantly the car started and they were off.